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From Sewell to Sochi: Washington Township grad working Olympics for NBC

Erin in Sochi.JPG

Erin Bollendorf, Washington Township High School graduate and daughter of Principal Joe Bollendorf, is working as an associate producer with NBC covering the Olympic games in Sochi, Russia. She's seen here at the Snowboarding & Freestyle Skiing venue at the Extreme Park at Rosa Khutor. (Photo supplied by Erin Bollendorf)

I’ve been pretty disappointed in the Western journalists who’ve been bad-mouthing the conditions.

From early morning talk shows to primetime news, coverage of the Sochi Olympics has taken over American television, and a Washington Township native is in the thick of it all.

Erin Bollendorf, an alumnus of Washington Township High School and daughter of principal Joe Bollendorf, is on the ground in Sochi, Russia, where the winter Olympic games are in full swing. Working as an associate producer, Bollendorf is part of the NBC team working to bring every medal and memorable moment back to the states.

Paired with a fellow Jersey girl from Glen Rock, Bergen County, Bollendorf is responsible for working with research teams to learn the athletes' stories and coordinate the informational graphics that pop up about them on-screen. She works specifically on snowboard and freestyle skiing events, including the parallel giant slalom, halfpipe, snowboard cross and slopestyle, a brand new Olympic event that debuted this year.

“Our days vary from relaxed and happy to frantic and exhausting, depending on the event and the amount of segments we’re required to deliver,” said Bollendorf in a recent email.

It's far from the first Olympics Bollendorf has covered — she was in Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012 — but the Sochi Olympics are her first games in a non-English speaking country, a new thrill for her.

“I love being submerged in a culture I’m unfamiliar with,” she said.

And the reports of the less-than-favorable conditions that have been making the rounds online and in news outlets? Overhyped, she said.

“I’ve been pretty disappointed in the Western journalists who’ve been bad-mouthing the conditions. I think they’re forgetting that to turn this region into an Olympic site took a lot of hard work and sacrifice from the people of Russia, and I think it's been disrespectful to joke about conditions,” said Bollendorf, who has been “very impressed” with the stunning mountain views. “When everyone gets to go home to their ideal situations, a lot of people will still be left here to try and build this place up to the vacation resort they hope it will be, and deal with the consequences if it doesn't."

With terrorist threats and the region’s recent instability spurring numerous security concerns, Bollendorf said she was “moderately concerned” before heading over, but she’s been reassured by the strict security measures on the ground. They go through check points, pat downs and bag searches regularly, and the methods are changed frequently to keep them on their toes, she said.

“Every big event poses a possible threat in the world we live in today, but I think all you can do is make sure you're taking every precaution to keep yourself in check, and hope for the best,” said Bollendorf, who arrived in Sochi on Jan. 29 and comes back to the states on Feb. 25.

She credits Washington Township High School's unique TV program, headed by teacher Marty Bouchard, as a big influence in starting her career in producing, giving her real-life experience working with a production team and creating their own on-air shows.

“[Bouchard] never took it easy on us in that class because they don't take it easy on you in the real world, but he also made it fun,” said Bollendorf, who has won seven Emmy Awards for her work with NBC over the years. “Before joining his class I knew I wanted to be involved in television production, but after being a part of that show, there was no question about the career path I wanted to pursue.”

It’s a path that’s given her invaluable experiences, she said, particularly the chance to experience life in far reaches of the world and connect with different cultures. While working the Olympics does have its challenges, with long days and high tensions, all it takes is a reminder of why she’s there to make it all worth it.

“You just have to remember it’s about the athletes, and it’s pretty cool to be a part of the team that’s sending their amazing stories from Russia back to the States,” she said.

It also helps to have reminders of where she came from close at hand.

“I have great producers at this Olympics, one of which is from Cape May,” she said. “Getting yelled at in a South Jersey accent always makes me feel like I’m home.”